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Post Info TOPIC: Agave Syrup
MzHartz


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Agave Syrup
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Has anyone else discovered the wonders of agave syrup?

It's the sugar taken from the agave plant.  So you use it just like sugar, but it's liquid just like honey.  But it doesn't taste like honey, it's just sweet like sugar.  And it doesn't crystallize like honey.  It has a lower glycemic index than sugar, and it's sweeter, so you don't have to use as much.  There's 60 calories per tablespoon (I don't know how that compares to sugar), and it's total carbs is 15g of sugar, and 1g of fiber.

I'm really loving it because it's perfect for ice tea.  If you like sugar in your tea, but you hate it when you end up stirring the grains of sugar around in the bottom of your glass, then sucking a mouthful of sugar through your straw, you might want to give agave syrup a try.

I just made some lemonade using lemon juice, sparkling water, and agave juice.

 



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disco strangler


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Never tried it, but have wondered about it, like if it really tasted like sugar or had an aftertaste.

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MzHartz


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I'm really picky about aftertastes, but agave syrup doesn't have one.

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confuzzed


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I haven't tried it. But is sounds like a good alternative. I made sun tea a few weeks ago and use splenda to sweeten it. The tea tasted fine, but I think if I have more than two glasses the splenda bothers my tummy. I haven't completely proved that theory yet. Kind of like my theory about if I drink crystal light too many days in a row that I get and keep a killer headache.

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MzHartz


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That's very possible. Artificial sweetener may not spike your blood sugar, but it's bad for you in many other ways. Sure, Splenda's "made from" real sugar, but it's still mostly chemicals.

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WebGuy


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I've never even heard of agave before.

And yes Fuzzy, Crystal Light gives me a headache too.



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MzHartz


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Agave is a type of cactus. It's also what tequila is distilled from.

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WebGuy


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Yay! I learned something today!



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confuzzed


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WebGuy wrote:
And yes Fuzzy, Crystal Light gives me a headache too.
A ha! It is not just me then.

 



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WebGuy


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Nope, not just you. I thought it was just coincidence, but I started specifically paying attention to it and almost every time I have Crystal Light, I get a low grade headache later.



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confuzzed


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Mz - did you read about agave first or did you just know that you can substitue it for the high fructose corn syrup?

I haven't done too much research so far, but the one thing I have read sums it up this way:

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Back to our original question Agave Nectar: Good or Bad?

The conclusion is clear. Agave nectar is bad for you. Its not traditional, not natural, highly refined, and contains more concentrated fructose than high fructose corn syrup.
------------------------------------

Now I realize that everything we ingest is probably not good for us. I guess I have to find which one does the least damage.

-- Edited by confuzzed on Thursday 10th of June 2010 12:50:51 PM

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disco strangler


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I'm bad... I use the "pink stuff"  --   saccharin...

-- Edited by disco strangler on Thursday 10th of June 2010 01:00:23 PM

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MzHartz


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A friend suggested it to me, so I thought I'd try it.

Where'd you get that quote from?  I'm wondering if they're saying that fructose is bad for you, or just sugar in general.  Sure, agave nectar is bad for you, but so is sugar.  Are they saying it's worse than corn syrup?  I think it's funny that they mention it's not natural.  Neither is corn syrup, yet the FDA says corn syrup is natural, and products that contain corn syrup can use the all natural label.

I just hate artificial sweeteners, and at least agave syrup is still sugar.  And it works well in ice tea.



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MzHartz


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disco strangler wrote:

I'm bad... I use the "pink stuff"  --   saccharin...

-- Edited by disco strangler on Thursday 10th of June 2010 01:00:23 PM



Ew.  Blech.  I've never been able to get past the taste.

Has anyone tried Stevia?  It's supposed to be natural, from a plant.  It tastes just as bad as artificial sweetners.  If anyone wants to try some, I have a whole box.



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disco strangler


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I'm gonna try it. Considering what I use, it couldn't be any worse, right?

Never tried stevia, but wondered about that one too...

I really need to just kick the habit (sweet), but it's so hard...

-- Edited by disco strangler on Thursday 10th of June 2010 01:04:31 PM

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confuzzed


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This was what I read.

http://www.foodrenegade.com/agave-nectar-good-or-bad/

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confuzzed


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disco strangler wrote:
I really need to just kick the habit (sweet), but it's so hard...
That was what part of the article said too. We need to kick the sweet habit. I guess it is like an addiction.

 



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confuzzed


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Agave Syrup was originally used to make tequila. When Agave Syrup ferments, it literally turns into tequila. The enzymatic activity therefore MUST be stopped so that the syrup will not turn into tequila in your cupboard.

Can you imagine that? Put this in the cabinent one day and months later you have tequilla. Does this mean it should be sold in the liquor store and to those only of drinking age?

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disco strangler


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For me, definately a problem. I binge when it comes to sweets. I do well for awhile, but all it takes is one slice of cake or whatever, and I'm outa control

Ice cream sure sounds good right now...

...  so does tequila sunrise 

-- Edited by disco strangler on Thursday 10th of June 2010 01:12:44 PM

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MzHartz


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confuzzed wrote:

Agave Syrup was originally used to make tequila. When Agave Syrup ferments, it literally turns into tequila. The enzymatic activity therefore MUST be stopped so that the syrup will not turn into tequila in your cupboard.

Can you imagine that? Put this in the cabinent one day and months later you have tequilla. Does this mean it should be sold in the liquor store and to those only of drinking age?


Huh.  Maybe I should buy more agave syrup... ;)

I like that article.  I didn't know about the difference between the way the body processes fructose and glucose.

Though I thought it was weird that it generalized "good" and "bad" so much. They say what's so bad about it, but they don't define what a "good" food might be.  I'd rather know not whether it's "bad," but if it's "worse."  Which is worse for you, sugar or agave syrup?  I also wish it told more about the "chemical process" that's used to make corn and agave syrup.  I'd never heard about a chemical process being used to make corn syrup.  Time to do a bit of Googling.



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confuzzed


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DS - I have the same issue. I just have alittle something sweet and then my body wants more and more.

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confuzzed


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Maybe it is time to buy some agave syrup and do an experiment as to how long it takes to make tequilla and if you leave it sit longer, does it get stronger.

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disco strangler


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Fuzzy, I am willing to offer my services for the sake of science --  I will be your test monkey... biggrin

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confuzzed


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I suppose you and Mz are going to want test the results via margaritas.

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disco strangler


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MzHartz


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It's all in the name of science. ;)

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confuzzed


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And what snacks does one serve with margaritas?

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MzHartz


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Tortilla chips and salsa. Or in my case, Triscuits and salsa.

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confuzzed


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I like triscuits and cheese.

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Mad Mema


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I've tried Stevia before. I generally don't use it in drinks, so I can't qualify how good it is for that. Mostly what I used it was a sweetener in low carb baked goods. By itself as I recall, it does have a bad after taste.

Splenda / sucralose is my favored artificial sweetener. It has the least after taste in my opinion.

Where it comes to agave, my experience is pretty much tequila which I whole heartedly endorse. My question, Fuzzy, would be what snack WOULDN'T one serve with a margarita?

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